Public Attitudes and Behaviors with Respect to Child Abuse Prevention 1987-1991. Working Paper Number 840.

Daro, Deborah; Gelles, Richard

This report summarizes key findings of a series of national public opinion polls to determine the public's attitudes and actions with respect to child abuse prevention. Findings are reported for four areas: public attitudes toward specific parental discipline practices; the frequency of specific parental discipline practices; the public's support for and involvement in child abuse prevention efforts; and the public's perception of the causes of maltreatment. Results suggest a dramatic change in public attitudes and behaviors over the past several years with 75% of Americans now believing that repeated yelling and swearing and the use of physical punishment can injure a child. Other findings showed 12% fewer parents (than 1988) spanking their children, and 25% acting in some way to prevent child abuse. However, other findings indicated over 50% of the states continue to allow corporal punishment in the schools and that few respondents saw a link between spanking and child abuse and 10% fewer (than in 1988) individuals feel that can help to prevent child abuse. (DB)